Edema is also known as hydropsy, dropsy, and oedema. This accumulation of fluid in your body tissues leads to swelling. It can happen in any part of our bodies, but usually feet, legs, ankles, and hands.
The number of people who suffer from edema in the USA is about 4.4 million people [1]. The most common signs and symptoms of edema are dimpling of the skin after being pressed for a few seconds, stretched or thin skin, puffiness and swelling.
Mild cases of edema can result from pregnancy, premenstrual syndrome, insect bites, malnutrition, high salt intake, a surgical procedure, and sitting or staying in one position for many hours.
There are some cases when edema is caused by side effects of medications such as diabetes medications, estrogen medications, steroid drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and high blood pressure medications.
In some cases, edema results from serious health problems such as allergic reactions, venous insufficiency, deep vein thrombosis, thyroid disease, arthritis, cancer, cirrhosis, kidney disease, and congestive heart failure. Also, there are risk factors that can increase your risk of getting edema, such as past surgeries involving the removal of lymph nodes, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, excessive drinking, kidney disease, and hypertension.
This is not a harmful condition but also can be a sign of an underlying condition.
Talk with your doctor if you suffer from edema. You can use a cold compress to alleviate swelling on your feet if you are pregnant. You should stop excessive drinking and smoking if you want to prevent this condition.
You can take Vitamin B6 supplements two times per day, but you need to talk with your doctor before you start using them. You can use many natural cures and edema home remedies as your natural treatment for edema.
9 Edema Home Remedy
Contents
Dandelion
Dandelion is one of the best natural edema home remedies because it has natural diuretic properties [2].
This home remedy will encourage the draining of fluid. Dandelion has potassium which will balance out the sodium in your body. This home remedy will help you reduce the swelling and inflammation caused by edema.
In one cup of hot water, you should add one teaspoon of dried dandelion leaves or one teaspoon of fresh dandelion leaves. You should cover this edema home remedy. Then, you should let it steep for five to seven minutes, and then you should strain it. You should drink two to three cups of this tea every day. If you suffer from gallbladder problems, then you should not use dandelion as your natural cure.
Parsley
This edema home remedy is also helpful in reducing pain and swelling because it removes the excess fluids from your body. A study said this natural cure has diuretic effects, which means you can use it as a natural treatment for edema [3].
Also, this home remedy will block the reabsorption of potassium and sodium. You should add one teaspoon of dried parsley to two cups of water. You should boil this edema home remedy for ten minutes, and then you should strain it. In the morning, before you eat your breakfast, you need to drink this natural cure at once.
Also, you can make a paste from parsley. You need to crush parsley leaves to make a paste. You should apply this home remedy to the affected areas. You should let it stay there for thirty minutes, and then you should rinse it with warm water. You should repeat this treatment two times per day. Also, you can eat this home remedy. You can add this natural remedy to your sandwiches, soups, and salads.
Massage
When we suffer from edema, then we have pain and swelling that are caused by this disease. You should massage the muscle areas and affected skin with gentle strokes that will create pressure on those areas. This will activate the lymphatic system, which will drain away the fluid in a natural way.
You need to warm some coconut, mustard, or olive oil. You need to massage the affected areas with warm oil in a gentle way. You need to do this edema home remedy treatment several times per day. Pregnant women who suffer from edema should have their massage done by a therapist specialized in parental massage.
Tea tree oil
When stings or insect bites cause edema, you can use tea tree oil as your natural edema home remedy treatment. This natural cure has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties because it can help reduce the pain and swelling caused by edema. One study showed it has alpha–terpineol and terpinen-4-ol that can regulate edema [4].
If you have edema caused by stings or insect bites, then you should put a few drops of this natural cure on a cotton swab and apply it to the affected areas. You should wait for a few minutes, and then you should rinse this remedy with warm water. If you need to repeat it, then you should do it.
If you have mild edema, then you should add a few drops of this natural cure to any carrier oil. You should massage the affected areas with this mixture using outward strokes. You should follow this edema home remedy treatment two times per day until you have noticed that the pain and swelling are gone.
Epsom salt bath
If you suffer from edema, then you should use an Epsom salt bath as your natural treatment for this condition because it will help you to rid of the pain, inflammation, and swelling that are caused by this disease.
This natural edema home remedy cure will draw out the excess toxins and fluids from your body.
In warm bathwater, you should add two cups of Epsom salt. You should soak your body in this mixture for ten to fifteen minutes. You should repeat this natural treatment three times per week.
Apple cider vinegar
One of the best natural cures for edema is apple cider vinegar. It is rich in potassium which means that it will help you to replenish the potassium levels in your body, and it will reverse fluid retention. Also, it has anti-inflammatory properties that can help you to reduce pain and swelling [5].
You should add one or two teaspoons of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar to one glass of water. You should drink this edema home remedy two times per day.
Also, there is another natural treatment that you can do with this home remedy. Make a mixture of equal amounts of apple cider vinegar and warm water. Soak a towel in this mixture. Then, you should wrap this towel on the affected areas and let it stay there for several minutes. You should do this treatment a few times per day.
Coriander seeds
One of the best natural treatments for edema is coriander seeds. They have anti-inflammatory properties that will help you reduce pain and swelling. Also, these seeds will encourage good blood circulation [6].
You should add three tablespoons of coriander seeds to one cup of water. You should heat this mixture to a boil. Then, you should simmer this mixture until you have noticed that the water is reduced by half. You should strain this mixture, and then you should let this remedy cool. You should drink this natural edema home remedy two times per day until you have noticed that the symptoms of this condition are gone.
Flaxseeds
One of the most used natural remedies for edema is flaxseeds. They have anti-inflammatory properties, which will help reduce swelling [7].
They will aid in detoxification, which means that they will help you to rid of harmful toxins.
In one glass of warm water, you should add ½ teaspoon of ground flaxseeds. You should drink this natural edema home remedy two times per day. Also, you can massage the affected areas with flaxseed oil a few times per day.
Reduce salt intake
When you consume a lot of salt, then this will increase your risk of getting edema. This will lead to water retention in the tissues. You should consume about one teaspoon of salt per day. Many experts recommend this amount. But you need to talk with your doctor about the recommended intake amount of sodium that you need to have every day.
You should limit your intake of salty foods such as fast food and prepackaged snacks. You should cook more at home and have less time to eat outside. This will help you to know how much salt you consume.
Also, you should eat a lot of fresh vegetables and fruit. Try to avoid canned versions of them because many of them have big amounts of salt that will keep their freshness and color. You can enhance the taste of food that you consume with herbs instead of salt.
References
[1] University of Maryland Medical Center. Leg swelling. Retrieved from www.umms.org/ummc/health-services/heart-vascular/services/vascular-disease/leg-swelling
[2] Wirngo FE, Lambert MN, Jeppesen PB. The physiological effects of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) in type 2 diabetes. The Review of Diabetic Studies. 2016;13(2-3):113-131.
[3] Kreydiyyeh SI, Usta J. Diuretic effect and mechanism of action of parsley. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2002;79(3):353-7.
[4] Nogueira MN, Aquino SG, Rossa Junior C, Spolidorio DM. Terpinen-4-ol and alpha-terpineol (tea tree oil components) inhibit the production of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 on human macrophages. Inflammation Research. 2014;63(9):769-78.
[5] Atik D, Atik C, Karatepe C. The effect of external apple vinegar application on varicosity symptoms, pain, and social appearance anxiety: A randomized controlled trial. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2016;2016:6473678.
[6] Hwang E, Lee DG, Park SH, et al. Coriander leaf extract exerts antioxidant activity and protects against UVB-induced photoaging of skin by regulation of procollagen type I and MMP-1 expression. Journal of Medicinal Food. 2014;17(9):985-95.
[7] Ren GY, Chen CY, Chen GC, et al. Effect of flaxseed intervention on inflammatory marker C-reactive protein: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutrients. 2016;8(3):136.
